Copy-holder.



B. F. COLE.

COPY HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16. 1910.

980,206, Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- Witnesses nventor Attorneys Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wi nes es Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. COLE, 0F KINGWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'IONEIL J. FORTNEY, 0F KINGWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

COPY-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed April 16, 1910. Serial No. 555,925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. Gone, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kingwood, in the county of Preston and State of WestVirginia, have invented a new and useful Copy-Holder, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to copy holders of the general type wherein avertically movable copy holder plate or support is employed.

In copy holders of the character lndicated, as usually constructed, thecopy holding plate or table is fed vertically to the necessary heightand is then released and permitted to drop by gravity onto one or morebufl'ers. In spite of the use of the buffers the plates usually dropwith a clatter and jar which is not only annoying but is likewisedetrimental to the copy holder itself.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means forcontrolling the copy support or plate so as to avoid the disadvantagesof copy holders as usually constructed.

Further objects of the invention are generally to improve and simplifythe construction of copy holders as well as to lncrease their efliciencyin operation and to decrease the expense attending their manufacture anduse, as well as to render them neat and attractive in appearance.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofthe claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification ;--Figure1 is a perspective view of a copy holder constructed in accordance withthe present invention. Fig. 2is a vertical sectionthrough a portion ofthe copy holder. Fig. 3 is a detail view looking at the rear upperportion of the copy holder. Fig. 4 is a vertical section, partly inelevation through the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, taken at a right angleto said figure. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing in detail theconstruction of brake mechanism for controlling the downward movement ofthe copy su port. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the brakeshoes shownin Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal View through the construction shown inFig. 5. Fig. 8 is a vertical section showing in detail a modifiedconstruction of the brake mechanism.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures of the drawing.

The copy holder of the present invention is constructed with a side bar1 which serves to maintain the copy holder in upright posltion. Mountedupon the upper surface of the side bar 1 is a clamp or vise member 2 inthe form of a split ring having a wing bolt or the like extendingtherethrou h as indicated by the reference numeral 3. Fitted into theclamping member or vise 2 is a transverse bar 4: which preferably iscircular in form at the portion which extends into the vise 2. At theend thereof opposite the clamp or vise 2, the transverse bar 4 is bentdownwardly as indicated at 5 and is provided with a ball or othersuitable bearing member 6. The transverse bar 4 carries the copy holdingplate or frame and when it is desired to adjust the copy at any desiredangle with respect to the vertical, the wing bolt 3 is loosened and thetransverse bar 4 is rotated within the vise or clamping member 2 untilthe desired angle of the copy is reached, after which the bolt 3 istightened up to hold the copy securely in adjusted position. Extendingupward from the trans-- verse bar 1 is a pair of converging framemembers 7 8 each of which at its lower end is angularly bent as,indicated at 9 and secured to the transverse bar 1 by means such as abolt 10. At their upper ends, the converging frame members 7 areangularly bent as indicated at 11 and are bolted to a transverse memberor cross piece 12 provided at the outer end thereof with upstanding earsor lugs 13. Vertically slidable in front of the frame members 7 and 8and cross pieces thereof is a copy holder support or plate 14: acrossthe front of which extends an indicating bar 15 which serves todemarcate the line which is to be copied. The spacing bar 15 is providedat the ends thereof with hanger arms 16 which are connected with theupstanding ears or lugs 13 of the cross piece 12. j

The means for guiding the copy plate or support 14 in its verticalmovement preferably comprises a pair of vertically extending rods orbars 17 each of which is seated at its lower end in a socketmember 18mounted on the transverse bar 4 and at its upper end is connected in anysuitable manner with the cross piece 12. The copy support or plate 14adjacent the lower corners thereof is provided with angular members orbrackets 20 which are perforated and embrace or fit around thevertically extending rod 17 so as to cause the plate or support 14 to beguided in its vertical movement upon the rod 17.

The plate or support 14 is further guided in its vertical movement bymeans of a rod 21 which is movable with said plate or support and isfixed in any suitable manner at its upper end in a socket member 22secured to a cross piece 23 which is bolted to the upper end of theplate or support 14. At its lower end, the rod 21 extends through astrap member 24 which is fixed to the plate 14 in any suitable manner.Intermediate its upper and lower ends, the bar 21 extends through aperforation in the cross piece 12. The action of the bar 21 fixed to theplate 14 and of the bar 17 fixed to the transverse member 4 is to holdboth the upper and the lower ends of the plates 14 in proper positionduring the vertical movement thereof.

The means for holding the copy on the plate 14 preferably comprises across bar 26 which extends across the front face of the plate 14 so asto clamp the upper end of the copy. At the sides thereof the cross bar26 is provided with loop members 27 which terminate in the journalmembers or trunnions 28 which are fitted into sockets 29 in the ends ofthe cross plate 23. For the purpose of holding the cross bar 26yieldingly against the front face of the plate 14, springs 30 areemployed said springs being formed I of a piece of wire wrapped intocoils, one of the terminals of the spring bearing against the rear faceof the plate 14 and the other terminal bearing against the cross bar 26so as to throw the same against the front face of said plate 14.

The means for elevating the copy support or plate 14 includes a push bar32 with the upper end of which is pivotally connected a clutch member 33having a spring 34 for normally holding it in operative position. Thefree end of the clutch member 33 is formed with a perforation whichengages the bar 21 of the plate 14. The clutch member 33 serves to biteonto the bar 21 so that the upward movement of the push rod 32 istransmitted to the bar 21 and through said bar to the plate 14. Themeans for preventing downward movement of the bar 21 and plate 14carried thereby when it has been raised one step by means of the clutchmember 33, preferably consists of a clutch member 35 which ispivota-llyconnected at 36 with the frame member 7 and surrounds the rod 21. at itsfree end. A spring 37 is employed to hold the bar 35 normally inposition to bite onto the rod 21 so as to prevent downward movementthereof. The clutch member 35 thus acts to hold the rod 21 and plate 14in the position to which it has been raised by the push bar 32. Themeans for operating the bar 32 includes a transmission lever 39 which isfulcrun'ied at 40 upon a bracket arm 41 and at its outer end. is formedwith a pair of notches 42 and 43, the notch 42 being deep and the notch43 being shallow.

The transmission lever 39 is operated by means of an operating lever 44which is fulcrumed at its rear end at 45 upon a bracket arm 46 connectedwith the side bar 1. The operating lever 44 normally is fitted into thenotch 42 of the transmission lever 39. Then the lever 44 is in the notch42, its clownward movement is limited by means of a stop member 47 inthe form of a screw rod adjustably fitted into a socket member 48 whichis mounted upon the side bar 1. So long as the operating lever 44 is inthe notch 42 so as to be limited in its downward movement by the stopmember 47 the plate 14 is raised in a step by step manner by means ofsaid lever 44. When however it is desired to lower the plate 14, thelever 44 is lifted out of the notch 42 and shifted into the notch 43.This causes the lever to move out of alinement with the stop member 47so that downward pressure thereon is no longer limited by the stop 47.The consequence is that the lower clutch member 33 is raisedsufficiently to escape the upper clutch member 35 with the result thatboth of said clutch members are thrown into approximately horizontalposition and the rod 21 is permitted to slide downward therethrough,thus permitting the lowering movement of the plate 14.

When the two clutch members 33 and 35 are caused to release the bar 21so as to permit downward movement of the plate 14,

it is desirable that means should be brought into operation forregulating or controlling the downward movement of said plate so as toprevent it from dropping with a crash. It is one of the objects of thepresent invention to provide means for accomplishing this result. Thepreferred means preferably includes a pair of semi-cylindrical brakeshoes 50 such as are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The brake shoes 50 fitagainst opposite sides of the rod 21 and are pivotally connected withdownwardly converging rod or lever arms 51, the arms 51 being connectedat 52 with the brake shoes 50 and at their upper ends at 53 with theframe members 7 and 8. By reason of the fact that the lever arms 51 arepivotallyconnected with the frame members 7 and 8, upward movement uponthe brake shoes causes said levers 51 to throw said brake shoes firmlyagainst the bar 21: The means for throwing the brake shoes into positionpreferably consists of a sleeve member 55 which slidably surrounds therod 21 above the upper clutch member 35. The sleeve 55 is interiorlyrecessed as indicated at 56 to receive the brake shoes 50. Said sleevemember is also slotted downward from its upper end as indicated at 56 soas to permit the passage of the lever arms 51. The operation of thispart of the mechanism is as follows: When the two clutch members 33 and35 are thrown in horizontal position so as to release the rod 21 andplate 1 1, the upper clutch member 35 bears against the lower end of thesleeve member 55 and raises the same. The action of the sleeve member 55is to cause the brake shoes 50 to be thrown tightly against the rod 21.The

greater the downward pressure upon the operating lever 44:, the greaterthe braking action upon the rod 21 will be. It will be apparenttherefore that the operating lever 44 not only serves to raise the plate1 1 in a step by step manner but also to release the same'andsimultaneously throw into action a braking mechanism by means of whichthe downward movement of the plate can be nicely regulated and any jaror crash can be avoided. The wear, tear and strain upon the mechanism isconsequently obviated and the life and efiiciency thereof are materiallyprolonged.

For the purpose of concealing the working parts of the mechanism and ofpresenting a neat appearance at the back of the copy holder, a casing 60is employed. This casing fits entirely over the back of the frame of thedevice and conceals all the working mechanism.

A modified form of the improved brake mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 8of the drawing, wherein the lower ends of the brake shoes 50 instead ofbeing straight as indicated in Fig. 5 are beveled or conical in form,and the recess 56 in the sleeve member 55 is similarly tapered so as toengage the tapered or beveled lower ends of the brake shoes 50 and thusthrow them very tightly into engagement with the rod 21. This form ofbrake mechanism is very effective in its operation.

The copy holder of the present invention is strong, simple, durable andinexpensive in construction as well as neat and compact in appearanceand thoroughly efficient and practical in operation.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A copy holder havin a vertically movable copysupport, a ro connected therewith, clutch mechanism engaging said rod, apair of brake shoes adapted to be thrown into engagement with said rod,and common means for operating said clutch mechanism and brake shoes tocontrol the upward and downward movement of said support.

2. A copy holder comprising a air of upwardly converging frame mem ers,a cross piece connected with the upper ends of said frame members, apair of vertically extending rods connected with said cross piece attheir upper ends, a vertically movable plate slidable on said rods, avertical rod connected with said plate and extending through said crosspiece, a pair of clutch members operating on said rod, an operatinglever for operating said clutch members, a pair of brake shoes bearing aainst opposite sides of said rod, a pair of levers connected with saidbrake shoes, a sleeve engaging said brake shoes and one of said clutchmembers, and a transmission lever located between said operating leverand said clutch members and having a plurality of notches adapted to beengaged by said operating lever for controlling said clutch mechanismand said brake mechanism.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy slgnature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. COLE.

Witnesses:

FRANK B. OCHSENREITER, W. H. G. CLARKE-

